Public feedback period opens as Province outlines new focus on Indigenous curriculum for BC schools

The start of a new requirement towards graduation for the K-12 education stream was announced on Friday, with the BC government outlining the scope of the path forward towards include of Indigenous focused course work as part of the curriculum starting with the 2023-24 School year.

The provincial move is one that answers  the Truth and Reconciliation  Commission call for Action Number 62 was called on educators to make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties and Aboriginal people's historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement..

The goals for the program that BC will put in place, that following the feedback period has been completed, were outlined by  Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education on Friday

“We are deeply committed to lasting and meaningful reconciliation in B.C. – guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples while working co-operatively with Indigenous Peoples across the province to address the knowledge gaps in our K-12 curriculum. 

This new requirement will deepen students’ understanding of the experiences, cultures, histories and knowledges of Indigenous Peoples. This will help us to understand the truths of our shared history, while also building knowledge so all students feel a sense of responsibility for our collective future.”

As the Province explains it, under the proposed model, students who are currently in Grade 10 would be the first group to complete this new requirement, starting in September 2023. 

The new requirement will apply to all students in B.C. public, independent and offshore schools. B.C. is the first Canadian province/jurisdiction to implement this type of requirement. 

One element of the curriculum implementation could see local School Boards authorize locally developed courses towards four or more credits to enable students to meet the requirements. Those programs could see local Boards of Education engage with local First Nations and Indigenous leaders to develop the program and to ensure that it contains locally focused and appropriate content.

More on the Friday announcement can be reviewed here.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice noted of the occasion and commitment to Reconciliation through her social media stream over the weekend.

The public engagement period continues until April 22nd, with an implementation plan to be completed by August of 2022.

Further background on the process ahead  can be explored here, to participate in the feedback process towards the program click on this link.

More notes on the BC Legislature can be reviewed from our archive page here.

A wider overview of Education in the Northwest is available here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.